Cabool High School’s Ryan Luerssen and Brittney Kimery of Licking were among 40 area students who received $500 college scholarships through the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks’ Students for Life High School Partnership Program.
The program is designed to reward student volunteers at schools that hold blood drives with CBCO. It is funded by contributions from area hospitals that utilize blood products provided by CBCO donors.
Thus far in the 2007-’08 academic year, 142 high schools have sponsored 257 blood drives with CBCO. The students have given more than 17,000 blood donations that went to work saving local lives. Around 25 percent of the total donations to CBCO during the school year come from blood drives held in area high schools.
“The level of support that patients receive from these dedicated teens is simply amazing,” said CBCO Executive Director Don Thomson. “I hope that many of these students will continue a program of giving blood through their adult lives. The impact these students make is tremendous. We should all be proud of their commitment to saving local lives.”
Applicants were required to meet several qualifications in order to qualify for the award. The student’s respective high school had to hold at least two blood drives with CBCO during the year. The applicant was required to help, either as a volunteer or coordinator, during those drives. Finally, students were required to submit a 300 to 350 word essay on the topic, “Why Blood Donation is a Vital Community Service.” Those essays were reviewed by a committee of volunteers throughout the CBCO service region to determine the winners.
Later this spring, select high schools in the area will receive grants from CBCO’s High School Partnership Program. These awards are based on participation and frequency of CBCO blood drives held during the 2007-’08 school year.